Altadis U.S.A. has announced expanded national distribution of the Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot. This is the third line extension for Henry Clay following the Henry Clay Tattoo and Henry Clay Stalk Cut. Rustic Cheroot is a small, full-bodied cigar that pay homage to an old-world cigar culture.
“Cheroot” is an old cigar word, often referring to a small, thin roll open at both ends used for blending or smoking on variety of tobaco. The Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot is a modern interpretation of this idea, with a pigtail cap and closed foot. The blend utilizes a broadleaf wrapper and Honduran binder, and an undisclosed blend of filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic. This blend is made using only the finest ”reborn” tobacco leaves, known as Capa Dura.
Rustic Cheroot’s filler tobaccos are said to resemble small cigars smoked many years ago by the tobacco field workers of Honduras’ western region. These workers participated in a tradition of sneaking into the farm’s curing barns, gathering a small amount of tobacco leaves from various pilons, and rolling it into small cigars to smoke throughout the day. Causing a hit to profits, owners of the fields discouraged this. To replace this, the workers began leaving tobacco plants in the fields after the choice leaves had been picked, and instead smoked the second wave of tobaccos grown in each batch. These tobaccos, later calleds ”reborn” leaves, had a rough exterior, but offered a strong, complex and more enjoyable profile.
Full distribution to national trade channels is expected to begin April 2018. Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot is available in one size, 5 5/8 x 38 and comes in boxes of 20 at suggest retail price of $4.25.
